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April 18, 2025 – Pakistan –
On April 17, 2025, a grenade was hurled into the home of local journalist Nisar Afridi in Bazi Khel village, located in Dara Adam Khel, Pakistan, triggering fresh fears for the safety of media workers in volatile tribal regions. Although no one was physically harmed in the explosion, the attack caused damage to the roof and destroyed a solar panel system that had been installed for household use.
Afridi, who reports for Roznama Khabrain, believes the incident was a consequence of escalating tensions between two rival local factions — one led by Malik Akbar and the other by Malik Latif — fighting over ownership and control of a nearby coal mine. The feud has long troubled the region and has recently intensified, turning civilian spaces into unintended battlegrounds. Locals reported a series of clashes in the area, and it is suspected that Afridi’s home was mistakenly or deliberately targeted as part of the ongoing power struggle.
Speaking to the media after the attack, Afridi condemned the growing insecurity in Dara Adam Khel and appealed to the district administration and police to take immediate steps to resolve the land dispute and protect residents. “We are not part of this fight. Journalists already risk their lives to inform the public, and now even our homes are no longer safe,” he said.
Dara Adam Khel, situated about 30 kilometers from Peshawar, lies in a region that has long experienced insurgent activity, tribal feuds, and lawlessness. Journalists in these areas often work without institutional protection, frequently finding themselves caught between warring groups, state authorities, and community pressures.
This grenade attack adds to the growing list of threats faced by Pakistani journalists, especially those reporting from conflict-prone and ungoverned areas. It also reflects a troubling trend where journalists are either directly targeted or become collateral in larger power struggles. Press freedom advocates have called for a thorough investigation and heightened protection for journalists, particularly those working in vulnerable and underserved regions like Dara Adam Khel.
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